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TO:

Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council

FROM:

Jim Collins, Director of Transportation

DATE:

October 22, 2024

SUBJECT:

Oshkosh Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan

BACKGROUND

Over the years, the city has received numerous questions from businesses and residents regarding electric vehicle charging. We have received inquiries from businesses willing to donate charging stations as well as from businesses requesting public charging infrastructure be installed in the central city, and questions from the Sustainability Advisory Board regarding this.

ANALYSIS

As a result of these requests, the city requested the assistance of our Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC), to put together a plan so that the city and surrounding areas better understand the electric vehicle charging market, current and potential EV charging locations and installation as well as funding alternatives.

ECWRPC put together a Request for Proposal for a consultant to help put together a report and plan. SRF Consultants was chosen. A diverse stakeholder group was put together and public engagement was sought. A number of stakeholder and public meetings were held to get input. The feedback heard during these meetings was incorporated into the plan. Ultimately, the plan recommended that if the city and/or area pursues public charging stations, they should initially be part of a pilot. The locations recommended in Oshkosh are the Convention Center North Parking lot and/or the Lakeshore Park parking lot.

The final plan was presented at a joint workshop of the Transportation Committee and Common Council on October 10th. Six members of the Committee were present as well as two council members.

The feedback from the Transportation Committee was that the plan was well done and informative. The committee thought the city should have an EV plan but wasn’t comfortable recommending any specific implementation or pilot since all the funding implications and details are not currently available. Staff explained that there are not any plans and/or budget for a pilot at this time. Any implementation would require further discussion and action from the committee and/or Council including budgeting. This plan can be used as a guide in the future if the city decides to invest in EV charging infrastructure and/or grant or gift opportunities arise. East Central will also be asking their Policy Board to adopt the plan for these purposes.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact at this time. Any fiscal impact would require budgetary action.

RECOMMENDATION

I recommend that Council adopt the plan at the November 12th meeting.

Attachments

Presentation from October 10, 2024 Joint Workshop

Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan